Sonnet today announced that it will introduce a new HARMONi iMac processor/FireWire upgrade, a new line of USB-based flash RAM storage products, a new ATA/100 PCI controller for desktop machines, and a 500MHz WallStreet processor upgrade.

The HARMONi processor upgrade/FireWire combo card is a new upgrade for the original iMac, offering a 500MHz IBM PowerPC G3 processor with 256K Level 2 backside cache operating at full processor speed (1:1) as well as a FireWire port. The $300 upgrade, due early in the fourth quarter, is compatible with the 233MHz, 266MHz, and 333MHz (Rev A-D) models of the iMac and supports systems with at least Mac OS 8.1 as well as OS X.

Sonnet has also introduced Piccolo, a line of flash RAM drives about the size of a car key, offering "plug and play" USB storage for Macs and PCs in capacities of 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, and 256MB (for $100, $190, $350, and $600 respectively). All models except the 256MB version will ship in August, while the 256MB is expected to ship later this year.

Providing an fast I/O desktop storage, Sonnet's new Tempo ATA100 Mac PCI host adapter, which boast highers speed data transfer and supports up to four internal ATA/IDE devices. The Tempo ATA100 offers compatibility with virtually all ATA hard drives under Mac OS 8.6/9 and a larger variety of drives (including DVD-ROMs, CD-RWs and other removable devices) under OS X.The PCI card, due in late in the third quarter of this year for $120, will ship with a new utility that "allows the user to select optimal performance for audio and video playback.

Finally, the company's Crescendo/WS G3, is a new "Wallstreet" PowerBook processor upgrade includes a 500MHz PowerPC G3 processor with 1MB
Level 2 backside cache. Sonnet says the the upgrade "roughly doubles the performance of a stock machine" and offers support with all operating systems (Mac OS 8/9 and OS X). It supports the 233-, 250-, 266-, 292-, and 300-MHz machines and will be available late in the third quarter for $400.

by MacNN Staff